A FINE NIGHT WITH HARRY STYLES

By Nicole Ghapgharan

Columbia’s Harry Styles kicked off the first of his three sold-out Love on Tour shows at the Forum 11/17. The North American leg of this road outing began nearly two years after the release of his latest album, Fine Line. Loves Way/Warner’s Jenny Lewis opened the show.

In fine Styles style, the Brit interacted with fans throughout the 90-minute set—helping one come out (congrats, Brenda), playing on inside jokes, waving both Bi Pride and Black Lives Matter flags, skipping with a rainbow-colored feather boa, tossing sunflowers and even cheekily asking fans to “feel free to let it be known” if they preferred his face or his ass while he traversed the diamond-shaped, theater-in-the-round stage. His matching green velvet vest and trousers also intimated a new freedom. (As we're out of the fandom loop, we had to consult a certified stan on this.)

Styles brought his full energy to 18 songs, most of them from his self-titled solo debut and Fine Line, including “Golden,” “Adore You,” “She,” “Lights Up,” “Treat People With Kindness,” “Watermelon Sugar,” “Kiwi” and the unreleased “Medicine,” satisfying an abundance of fan pleas. He even paid homage to his time in One Direction, performing their hit “What Makes You Beautiful.”

For those of you heading to the show tonight or Saturday (or both—we’re not judging), perhaps bring some earplugs because, yes, my ears are still ringing from the deafening screams. Rumor among the Harries suggests there may even be a special guest for the final L.A. show—and that HS3 might not be as far away as fans think, perhaps as soon as Q1.

On the concluding stop of the tour, American Express is partnering with Styles to make him the first artist to perform at UBS Arena in Belmont Park, N.Y., on 11/28, in its grand opening. The collab will see the return of the American Express Experiences x Harry Styles Love Bus, the Fine Line-inspired, '70s-style vehicle unveiled in 2019 (and pictured below). Manager Jeffery Azoff and CAA’s Mitch Rose are expected to sport feathered boas for the occasion.

Photo Credit: top, Anthony Pham; bottom, American Express